Palabra Lexi · common words in Spanish
How to say "to buy" in Spanish
"To buy" in Spanish is comprar, pronounced kom-PRAR (stress on the syllable in capitals).
| Spanish | comprar |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | kom-PRAR |
| Meaning | to buy |
| Part of speech | verb |
| Frequency | #51 in the Palabra list of common Spanish words |
Pronunciation is spelled out in English, one syllable at a time, with the stressed syllable in capitals. The speaker button uses your browser's built-in Spanish voice.
How to pronounce comprar
Comprar is pronounced kom-PRAR, in IPA /komˈpɾaɾ/. Comprar has two syllables, kom-PRAR, with the stress on the second. There is no written accent because the word follows the basic rule: words ending in a consonant other than -n or -s are stressed on the last syllable.
Listen: normal and slow speed, in your browser's Spanish voice. IPA: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.
Example sentences
Voy a comprar pan
I'm going to buy bread
Quiero comprar pescado.
I want to buy fish.
Compro un regalo.
I buy a gift.
"To buy" in Spain and Latin America
Useful phrases
- ir de compras
to go shopping - ¿Dónde puedo comprar…?
Where can I buy…?
Regional words and roots: Diccionario de la lengua española (RAE). Spanish varies by region, so treat these as the most common patterns, not strict rules.
How to remember comprar
comprar [kom-PRAR] sounds like the English “compress”. Picture this:
You buy so much the machine compresses it into one cube you roll home.
A sound-alike plus a vivid scene is the keyword method, a well-studied way to learn vocabulary. How it works.
Practice comprar
Two quick games, right here: no sign-up, nothing is sent anywhere.